"Captain." Her acknowledgment was equally polite and equally weighted with underlying tension, though Aerin found herself momentarily distracted by the man facing her. He was exactly the kind of physical presence that usually made her academic colleagues nervous—broad-shouldered and powerfully built, with golden eyes that held predatory focus and an air of controlled authority that suggested he was used to being obeyed without question. The way he moved, the careful precision of his stance, even the scent of pine and leather that clung to his skin—all of it triggered responses in her fae heritage. "Yes, I'm conducting research on historical magical sites for the University of the Northern Courts. I have proper academic credentials and research authorization."
"I'm sure you do." Leo forced himself to focus on protocol despite the way her presence was affecting his concentration. Something about her made his lion want to either claim her immediately or challenge her authority, and neither response was appropriate for a professional interaction. "Unfortunately, our historical archives are currently restricted due to ongoing municipal reorganization. I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to submit a formal request and wait for the appropriate processing period."
Dr. Thorne's smile was sharp enough to cut glass, though Leo caught a flicker of what seemed like appreciation forhis directness. "How convenient. And how long might this 'processing period' typically last?"
"Hard to say. Could be weeks. Could be months. Bureaucracy moves slowly in small towns." The stubborn tilt of her chin when he refused her request made Leo's pulse quicken that didn’t have anything to do with his job.
"Captain Maddox." Her tone shifted into something more direct, abandoning the pretense of academic politeness and burying the sense of attraction fully. "I'm not a tourist interested in genealogy research. I'm investigating supernatural phenomena that have been registered by monitoring stations across three states. The magical surge that originated from this location was significant enough to trigger emergency protocols at multiple research facilities."
Leo's stance shifted subtly, his lion recognizing a potential threat. "I'm not sure what you're talking about. We had some severe weather recently, but nothing that would qualify as a 'supernatural phenomenon.'"
"Severe weather doesn't typically generate the kind of harmonic resonance that I measured during my drive up the mountain." Dr. Thorne pulled a device from her satchel that looked like a cross between a compass and a tuning fork. "This area is saturated with residual magical energy at frequencies consistent with ancient binding magic. Specifically, founder-level workings."
The device in her hands began to emit a soft humming sound, its needle spinning wildly before settling on a bearing that pointed directly toward Hush Falls. The magical signature was apparently strong enough to be detected even at this distance, and Dr. Thorne's expression grew more determined with each pulse of the instrument.
"Interesting," she said, making notes in her journal. "The resonance pattern suggests recent activation of dormant magicalsystems. I'd estimate the primary source to be approximately half a mile northwest of here, likely underground or water-associated given the harmonic characteristics."
From the town hall window, Lyra felt her breath catch. The woman wasn't just guessing—she was reading magical signatures with the precision of someone who'd studied founder magic extensively. Either she was exactly what she claimed to be, or she was something much more dangerous disguised as an academic.
"Dr. Thorne," Leo said, his voice taking on the edge that meant his patience was wearing thin. "I'm going to need you to put that device away and come with me for a formal interview about your research intentions."
"Am I being detained, Captain?"
"You're being escorted to the appropriate authorities for a conversation about municipal policy regarding academic research." Leo's hand moved to rest casually on his radio, a gesture that was non-threatening and clearly significant. "I'm sure you understand the importance of following proper procedures."
Dr. Thorne studied him for a long moment, her pale eyes taking in details that suggested she was cataloging everything from his species to his probable fighting style. "Of course. Though I should mention that my research has been approved at the federal level through the Regional Supernatural Authority. I have documentation if you'd like to verify my credentials."
The mention of the RSA sent a chill through everyone within earshot. The Regional Supernatural Authority was the organization that had been making inquiries after the magical storm, the same group that Ruth had warned could spell trouble for Mistwhisper Falls' carefully maintained independence.
"Federal approval," Leo repeated, his tone carefully neutral. "How interesting. And what exactly did you tell the RSA about your research intentions?"
"Nothing more than the truth—that I'm investigating reports of unusual magical phenomena and their potential connection to historical sites." Dr. Thorne's smile returned, though it held more teeth than warmth. "The RSA is very interested in maintaining accurate records of supernatural activity, particularly in regions with significant magical history."
"I'll bet they are." Leo gestured toward the town hall entrance. "Shall we continue this conversation inside? I'm sure the council would be very interested to meet someone with such impressive credentials."
As they walked toward the building, Lyra caught sight of Dr. Thorne's expression through the window. The woman's scholarly mask had slipped slightly, revealing something that looked like genuine concern beneath the academic arrogance. Whatever had brought her to Mistwhisper Falls, she wasn't just here for research credits or professional advancement.
"She's afraid of something," Lyra murmured to Cade, their bond allowing her to share the insight without words.
"So am I," Cade replied grimly. "I’m not sure if we should be afraid of her, or afraid of whatever she's running from."
The town hall doors closed behind Leo and Dr. Thorne, but their voices could be heard echoing through the building as the interrogation began. Outside, the magical detection device that Dr. Thorne had used continued to hum softly from where she'd left it on the steps, its needle still pointing steadily toward the falls where founder runes waited beneath the earth like sleeping dragons.
In her pocket, the mysterious letter seemed to pulse with warmth, as if responding to the arrival of someone it had been waiting for. Lyra's founder's mark tingled with increasingintensity, and through the bond she shared with Cade, she could feel his wolf's instinctive certainty that their carefully restored peace was about to be shattered by forces they didn't yet understand.
Dr. Aerin Thorne had come to Mistwhisper Falls looking for answers about ancient magic and supernatural phenomena. But as her devices detected the layers of power woven through the town's foundations, it was becoming increasingly clear that she might have found far more than she'd bargained for.
And from the tension radiating through the bond between Lyra and Cade, it was equally clear that whatever Dr. Thorne represented—ally, enemy, or something more complicated—her arrival was going to change everything they thought they knew about their magical inheritance and the forces gathering around their small mountain town.
The real question was whether those changes would save Mistwhisper Falls or destroy it entirely.
TWO
AERIN
The council chamber felt smaller with Dr. Aerin Thorne in it, her presence somehow compressing the space until everyone seemed hyperaware of exactly where she was standing at any given moment. She'd taken the seat usually reserved for visiting dignitaries, her leather satchel arranged precisely beside her chair and her credentials spread across the table in a display that was both respectful and subtly intimidating.
Elder Ruth examined the documents with the careful attention of someone who'd learned not to trust paperwork at face value. The University of the Northern Courts letterhead was genuine—Ruth had seen enough fae documentation over the decades to recognize authentic magical signatures—but it was the federal authorization that made her eyebrows rise.
